Nomination

Any Canadian is welcome to nominate a deserving individual as a candidate for appointment to the Order of Canada. A nomination form (PDF format) is available for download here, or you can write to the Chancellery of Honours to request an electronic copy.

Who is eligible?

All living Canadians are eligible for the Order of Canada, with the exception of federal and provincial politicians and judges while in office. Non-Canadians can be considered for “honorary” appointments if they have made a sustained and exceptional contribution to Canada. Members of the Royal Family can hold “extraordinary” appointments. There are no posthumous appointments.

Officers and Members may be promoted within the Order in recognition of new achievements that expand the reach or impact of their contribution to Canada. Nominations for promotion follow the same process as initial nominations.

If a candidate has been previously considered but not appointed to the Order of Canada, a new nomination can be brought forward five years after the last nomination. If you think this may apply to your candidate, please contact the Chancellery of Honours.

What information do I need to provide in my nomination?

As you complete the nomination form, you will be asked for the following information:

The candidate’s name and contact information

Your name and contact information

An explanation of what the candidate has accomplished and of how this has made Canada stronger

The names of and contact information for three individuals who know the candidate and can speak to his/her contribution to Canada.

What will happen to my nomination?

The Chancellery of Honours will consult with the references you provide and with experts to establish the reach and impact of a candidate’s contribution. They will present this information to the Advisory Council of the Order of Canada, which is an independent advisory body whose members reflect the diversity and excellence in Canadian society. The Advisory Council reviews all nominations and makes recommendations to the Governor General. New appointments to the Order of Canada are announced on January 1 and July 1 each year. If your candidate has not been appointed, you will receive a letter to inform you after that date.

The Chancellery of Honours will keep your nomination confidential to protect the privacy of all those involved and to avoid disappointment if the nominee is not selected. We ask that everyone involved in making or supporting a nomination also respect this policy.

What are the technical requirements to download the nomination form (PDF)?

All nomination forms on this website are available in Portable Document Format (PDF). This means that if you have a PDF software reader, you will be able to view, save, print, or download these documents.

To view and use fillable forms or to download blank forms for future use, you need: